#personally I think Ace or Bess(!)

[minimorgana]

Currently picturing the Drew crew playing dnd and it’s a very nice image

Who do you think would dm???

[aceofnace]

Nancy’s Feelings for Ace

Nancy told Ace that the first time she realized she had feelings for him was during the dreamscape with the wraith, because that was her official “oh” moment, but as a viewer we know she had feelings for him long before that, even if she didn’t know it. The first real signs for us were her obvious jelly feelings as she watched Ace flirt with Amanda in 2x07 and her mind immediately jumping to Ace when she heard the sentence “the one with the pretty eyes” in 2x08. But really, it goes even further back than that.

Nick asking Ace in the last episode if it was ever really only friendship and nothing more between him and Nancy got me thinking back to the very beginning. And to be honest, I don’t think it ever was only friendship. For either one of them.

We know now that Ace had a crush on Nancy in high school. So naturally, when she started working at The Claw, that crush returned right away (even if he also had a crush on Bess at the time). And we know Nancy met Nick and it was lust at first sight and she immediately embarked on a physical relationship with him soon after. This all happened before the show began. What else happened before the show began and it’s one of the first things Nancy tells us about Ace when her narration introduces us to him?

The smoke break.

Upon first viewing, it feels like an unimportant throwaway line. A piece of information that could just as easily have been left out. But it wasn’t. Why? Because I think that smoke break, a moment we’ve never gotten to see, was when Nancy’s feelings for Ace actually started.

Think about it for a second. We know that Nancy has always found Ace attractive. When she hears the term “pretty eyes”, she’s like “Who, Ace?” When she’s under the spell of a lust dress, she lets it slip out that she’s always imagined how soft his hair would be. In as early as episode 1x02, she’s placing a hand on his shoulder for no reason while she talks and she doesn’t let go until she’s done. He may not have necessarily been on her radar in high school like she was on his, but he certainly was as soon as she started working at The Claw.

So, now that we have obvious physical attraction out of the way, that smoke break. We know very little about it. The most of what we do know about it is made up from the minds of countless fans who’ve written their own fan fic version of it (myself included). But the one canon thing about it, the thing Nancy told us herself, was that he didn’t judge her for tanking her grades after her mom died. And how did he even know about that? Because she told him.

Nancy Drew, who at the start of the show was the queen of high emotional walls who didn’t like divulging personal information to anyone, divulged some pretty personal information to this boy she barely knew (and even though it’s never discussed again, there’s a pretty good chance that wasn’t the only smoke break they ever spent together). Meanwhile, she was hooking up with Nick and even sorta calling herself his girlfriend, but any time he tried to get her to open up and talk about anything, she shut him down immediately.

I feel like this is something that should be discussed more. The fact that she was able to so quickly and comfortably share stuff like this with Ace and nobody else is a huge deal. And in the beginning, it’s completely overlooked because Nancy’s love interest was Nick, and then after they broke up, Owen was next in line. For most of season one, she did not outwardly show any significant interest in Ace as anything more than a stranger–turned–co-worker–turned–sleuthing buddy–turned–close friend. But that interest was there.

And why wouldn’t it be? As I already mentioned, Nancy was always physically attracted to Ace. She knew from before the show began that he was a good listener and easy to talk to. And then early on when she learned about his hacking abilities, she saw how smart he was. Soon after that, she learned how loyal and dedicated he was. The boy risked his entire future to break her father out of prison, and he did so without her even asking him to. He willingly drank what could’ve been poison to prove she was right and to keep her from getting arrested. Every time she called, he answered. Every time she needed help or needed a favor, he delivered. How could she not possibly fall for him?

So, she did fall for him. Most likely even in season one. It was evident during the library scene where they were reading Ryan and Lucy’s emails out loud. Hearing Ace say things like “I think I love you too” and “I want to be with you, I don’t care what anyone else says” made her feel something, hence the look the two of them share afterward. But here’s the thing: if Nancy recognized that feeling at all, she would have shoved it down so far and so fast because that feeling was something real. Something more than she was used to feeling. And that scared her.

Nick was a distraction from the grief over her mother’s death. Owen was also a distraction from that grief, as well as from her break-up with Nick. Ace wasn’t a distraction. He was a friend. A confidant. Someone she could rely on. Someone she could count on under any circumstances. This kind of relationship with a guy was one she wasn’t accustomed to. And she knew that it could someday lead to something more serious—something she most definitely wasn’t ready for.

In 2x10, while under the spell of the lust dress, Nancy theorized out loud that perhaps the dress was intensifying feelings of attraction she already had but was repressing, and she said it while turning and looking directly at Ace. Keep in mind that (somehow) 2x10 in the timeline is not that far from where they were in season one, so to assume those repressed feelings started in season one is not that much of a stretch. And looking back, even starting within the first few episodes of the series, you can clearly see she has always been drawn to him in a very subconscious way. She would always stand so close their arms would almost touch. She would lean closely over his shoulder when he was on his laptop, their faces sometimes only mere inches apart. She would practically bump into him while walking side-by-side. She’s always had this unrealized need to be near him. To be close to him. And he’s the only one. I challenge anyone to find scenes that show her casually existing so closely next to Nick, Owen, Gil, Park or even now Tristan. You can’t. Because they don’t exist.

And this makes sense. Canonically, they are soulmates. And that would explain why Ace could simply see her make a volcano erupt in high school and develop feelings for her. It would explain why since day one, Nancy has had a bond with Ace that she’s never had with anyone else. And I know the writers say that Nace wasn’t the plan from the beginning, and I do believe that, but somehow, they inadvertently set it up perfectly for these characters to end up in the situation they’re in right now: desperately in love and desperate to be together. They are each other’s person. And they always have been from the very start.

To go back to what they were before would just be staying the same. They’ve never been just friends. And the sooner Ace can admit that to himself, the sooner they can get back to trying to break that curse and securing their future together.

[scarletslippers]

Why I'm Okay with Nancy/Tristan Having a "Soulmate" Connection and What That Means for Nace

Okay, this is going to be less of a theory explanation than a deep dive into the most prevalent (?) theory I've read/the theory I subscribe to, and why I think it's going to play out in an amazing and satisfying way for our beloved star-crossed lovers.

First, the theory: Tristan is the Sin Eater, destined to reincarnate throughout time and consume the sins of Horseshoe Bay. After what we've seen in 4x10 (the *spark*, "We've walked this path many times before.", "It was like he knew you."), it seems Nancy is some kind of light-energy-Sin Eater-counterpart. An Angel of Truth, perhaps? It seems she is also destined to reincarnate throughout eternity in order to reveal the truths of Horseshoe Bay.

Why I love this theory: Nancy is passionate about finding out the truth and has a dedication to honesty. It's ingrained in her from a young age, and plays a huge role in why she solves mysteries and how she navigates her relationships. She solved the biggest mystery of all (her own heritage) by "always seeking out the truth, even when it hurts.” Just like Kate taught her. And every single one of her relationships is colored by it—Nick pulling away because she wouldn’t be honest with him. Uncovering that Ace was lying and working for McGinnis. Pushing Bess to reveal her real identity. The list goes on.

We’ve also known Nancy to lie when it’s incredibly important for her—Recanting her testimony and destroying her credibility to save Ace’s life, lying by omission to Ace about the curse to keep him safe.

(also Carson calls Nancy their “better angel” and wow do I love a show that makes things work from 2 seasons ago).

How I think it will play out for Nace: Right now, Nancy seems pretty heavily into this so-called “romantic” connection with Tristan, and Ace seems rather forgotten doesn’t he? She talks about him as an “ex” and that Tristan is an “open and honest” communicator, and a “mature” relationship, implying that those things aren’t/weren’t true about Ace, which we all know is obviously not true.

But we learned that Nancy was the last sinner. Personally, I think (and hope) that Nancy’s confessed sin was about (momentarily) giving up HB in order to have a future with Ace. However, regardless of what the sin is, it’s HIGHLY likely that it is Ace and curse related, and if it’s Ace and curse related that means Nancy’s, and Ace’s (...and the crew’s, and the dads’, and…everyone’s) memories are altered. And you know what? If your memories are altered in some way that makes you forget you are cursed or forget that you love someone, this mystical Sin Eater/Angel of Truth soul spark connection thing is gonna feel pretty darn romantic to you.

So what happens when the truth is revealed? We have two truths to uncover here: Nancy’s sin, and the truth about what she is/her past lives.

Number 1: Revealing Nancy’s sin will help her see her relationships more clearly and remember her relationship with Ace. Remember, “our memories make us who we are and that is worth fighting for.”, and we have seen Nancy fight tooth and nail for Ace this season, every fight/break-up they had about their relationship and the curse being colored by their desperation to be together. When that comes rushing back, it’s going to be a big shift. Nancy tells Ace “That's all you're really left with... just messy, stupid memories that stick around, and... good or bad, you get to make more of them.” Nancy has memories with Ace and she’s going to fight for them. She’s going to fight to make more memories with him.

Number 2: We already see Nancy feel pretty strongly about freeing Tristan from his fate as the Sin Eater, and wanting to stop him from having to be reincarnated forever. When she finds out she’s the same, she’s going to fight to end it for herself too. So much of Nancy’s life has been fated/determined—being a Hudson, learning her life was a lie, being taken in by the Drews (Yes, they choose to raise her but did they really have the option to say no? Come on, it’s Carson and Kate), and now this? And so much of Nancy’s life has been about clinging to normalcy. She just wanted to go to Columbia to get away, to be normal. To have a regular family and regular friends. She didn’t ask to be pulled into a murder case and to hunt down supernatural killers. She didn’t ask to be haunted by Lucy Sable. She didn’t ask to be some supernatural reincarnated truth entity.

Nace is endgame. We know this. And right now the ‘star-crossed lovers’ of it all has taken on a new twist. Once cursed to not be together, we now learn that one of them is reincarnated and the other is not. Unable to even spend eternity together.

(Yes, I have Thoughts and Theories on how Nancy putting Ace’s name in the jar at the Lover’s Vigil may have created some connection here, perhaps forging an eternal/after death bond that wasn’t there before. And I also have Thoughts and Theories about that ‘mystical wedding vibe’ of the curse break attempt in 4x03 and how in a wedding ‘two shall become one’ and maybe now their souls are bonded which could influence everything, but that’s A Whole ‘Nother Post.)

So Nancy is going to choose Ace. Break out of whatever Truth/Sin eternal connection this is and choose Ace. Remember that Carson said “maybe we get more than one [soulmate]”, and he also told Nancy “You control your fate. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Maybe Tristan is Nancy’s supernatural soulmate, but Ace is Nancy’s person and she’s going to choose him.

The Naceplications:

Here’s why that’s an incredible thing for Nace, and is going to be an important thing for their character arcs, both individually, and as a couple.

Ace needs to be chosen. Ace struggles with insecurities of feeling lost, without purpose, and being unworthy. So much of Ace's life has been about proving himself—proving to his father he’s not a child and can make adult decisions, proving to McGinnis he’s not a screw up after he got caught hacking that database, proving his worth to Grant even as a brother by helping him, proving to Nancy he’s worth her time and attention by trying to always help her (and only in 4x06 does he realize maybe that’s flawed).

But what he doesn’t realize is he’s always been enough just how he is. Nancy loves him just how he is. She opens up to him about tanking her grades, tells him he’s brilliant when he starts making connections with Charity (actually Hannah) in 3x09, tells him “You never were [lacking].”, or even when she tells him in 4x08 “You really showed up for me, I noticed.” by knowing Kate’s anniversary, giving Nancy the necklace while in his body, supporting her breaking and entering. Those weren’t about doing stuff for her but just being there for her. Him. His presence.

So for Ace to learn she’s some immortal-truth-light-being-thing that’s been reincarnated and has this counterpart connection to the Sin Eater, he's going to think he has no chance against that, right? Of course she’ll choose Tristan. Except Nancy can’t lose him. Nancy is willing to and has risked it all to save him, to be with him, multiple times. He doesn’t think he’s good enough, and yet she chooses him.

Nancy needs to be chosen, too. She feels abandoned by everyone in her life (losing her mom, losing her perceptions of her family/her parents, even losing Lucy to an extent), and she feels that so much is out of her control. Nancy worries that she’s only the worst parts of everyone who came before her, and in light of everything—being a source of light and good, reincarnated throughout time—how much of her life was her choice? Does she solve supernatural mysteries because it’s a connection deep in her bones? In her soul?

She’s prickly and complicated and messy and has walls ten miles high, and she needs someone who will choose her through it all. Ace is that person.

There’s a recurring theme of choice for the two of them across the show. Think about Ace knowing there is a choice beyond something that’s bonded to your soul after his connection with Charity. Think about Ace remaining in Horseshoe Bay and telling Laura “I believe I have a purpose here.” Think about Nancy making the unthinkable choice, but saying “Blind spots, Temperance. I choose this.” Think about Nancy and Ace reading emails that say “I want to be with you. I don’t care what anyone else says.”

Think about Nancy, an Angel of Truth, tied eternally to a Sin Eater, choosing a mortal life. Choosing to be with the man she loves.

Think about her turning away from eternal reincarnation and saying “I face the mystery of this journey with courage because it is with you.” “In this world that tries to silence me the most dangerous words I can speak are that I love you.”

Think about how “it’s always been about love” and Nancy is choosing who she loves, not who she’s connected to through fate.

Love is an action, and love is a choice. Love is putting someone else’s needs first and choosing that person over and over. And really, someone that chooses you is far more romantic than a predestined soulmate anyway.

[pluckysidekick]

Nancy Drew Episode 218: The Echos of Lost Tears

I wrote a little essay about how amazing this episode is for the HAND Discord server, where we’ve been doing brackets for the show’s episodes (the brilliant idea of @binancydrew). But it got kinda long-I had a lot to say 😂. So I’ve posted it here along with a few gorgeous GIFs from some amazing Nancy Drew fan creators (with credits). I hope you enjoy it!

————-

218 is the zenith of the best season of TV ever, Season 2 of Nancy Drew. The Wraith storyline, hidden in plain sight throughout this incomparable season, comes into focus and allows Nancy to work through her deep trauma and learn to accept all of the parts of herself, even the ones she doesn’t like e.g. Nancy Hudson. And her friends, her soulmates, are there, in real life AND in her dreamscape, to support her, to defend her, and to love her just as she is.

218 is also the culmination of Nancy’s journey to find out what kind of person she wants and needs as a partner in life. We see hints of her being amused by Ace, being attracted to Ace, and increasingly relying on Ace, throughout Seasons 1 and 2. But only in 218 does she finally admit to herself that Ace is her *person*. There’s a reason that in 403 she tells Ace that she knew she had feelings for him when they fought the Wraith.

GIF by @andsjuliet

“You’d been there for me so many times before, but that was…” She was overwhelmed by how supportive Ace was throughout their fight to defeat the wraith, while he asked nothing in return. He tells her “All this time, the wraith made you think there was no separating you from it- you just proved that wrong”*Swoon*. He kept her safe as he drove her to New York in Florence, and held her up when she was weak. He held her hand, and rubbed her back, when she was fighting the wraith. He helped her to stand when they’d defeated it but she was still weak. When Nancy expressed surprise that she was strong enough to hold the trauma, Ace is the one that said, “I think you always were, Nancy,” as he helped her stand up, and with that look between them.

GIF by @nacesource

But 218 also has growth for every character. Bess saying goodbye to Odette, and George’s generous offering of love and friendship to allow them a passionate kiss before Odette goes inside forever, with Lo Moon playing, was so beautiful I want to cry just writing this.

GIF by @booasaur

George takes a huge step forward by proposing to Nick after she hadn’t even wanted to pretend to be his fiancée, and Nick has found someone that loves him for him, and we see him preparing to open the Youth Center. Carson helps Nick to lay Celia to rest, signs away his right to be Nancy’s dad, and invites Ryan to move into the Drew house. An incredible turnaround in their relationship, and the foundation of Dad #1 and Dad #2!

The ending, as heartbreaking as it was that Nancy just missed Ace (for now), Nancy ending the episode claiming herself as a Hudson and deciding to break up the company and provide reparations to Everett’s victims is a powerful statement. And while the wraith is a fantastic supernatural monster, it’s also an amazing metaphor for depression, and feeling a lack of self-worth. Nancy’s breaking up with Gil is so powerful and meaningful for many people who’ve been in difficult relationships.

GIF by @hucklebucket

And so many classic moments! “You drew a fish!” “I hate zebras!” The look between Nancy and Ace at Odette’s antics outside Myrtle’s house- silent communication at its finest. The Myrtle/Temperance reveal! The Dads and knuckleball! And of course, “You weren’t born broken- the only way to heal is to let that pain become love.” “It’s time to kick the monster out of your house.” “Will you hold me?” “I thought you’d never ask.” “Knock ‘em dead”.

GIF by @hucklebucket

Speaking of which, the dreamscape was an amazing sequence technically, writing-wise, and emotionally. The progression through Nancy’s different selves, the support of her friends (George and her crowbar), the realization that she loves Ace and that amazing dream scene at the bluffs (the first almost kiss!). And the way it ties together so many moments from past episodes - tween Nancy and her first big case, her birth at the bluffs, her adoptive mother’s death, the evolution of her relationship with Nick into deep friendship, her low point of the kidnapping of Everett. AND the little touches of everyone wearing outfits from earlier episodes - Ace wearing his 212 outfit e.g. the Grant episode where Nancy saves him at great cost (“I couldn’t lose you”), was a personal favorite touch of mine. All in all, brilliant storytelling, perfectly executed.

GIF by @nancydrewcentral

I haven’t said enough about Ace’s growth. He starts the episode wanting to get away, but not being able to leave Nancy when she’s in trouble. And then he’s the most supportive friend he (or anybody) could be. But he’s loyal, and he doesn’t suspect that Nancy has developed feelings for him yet (remember he thinks it didn’t happen until DetectiveCon). So he is able to put his hurt feelings about Gil aside, and apologize to Amanda, and go on the road trip. But when he tells her “I feel like I left something behind”, while Nancy is simultaneously going to his house to confess her feelings, while “For Me, It’s You” plays- AAAHHHHH. *Weeping*.

GIF by @wandasviz

313 is an amazing episode with iconic scenes, the Nace scenes specifically. I advocated for it as one of the strongest episodes of the latter half of the series. But some fans found the pacing is challenging, and the fakeout deaths of Ryan and Ace (beautifully) painful, and can be hard to rewatch. 313 is a jam packed, excellent episode of television. But 218 is a beautifully constructed, emotional journey for Nancy, the Drew Crew, and her Dads, and a cap to what many, including Kennedy (on Twitter), think is the best season of the show. It’s a superior episode overall from a superior show and fantastic season. Vote 218!

GIF by @drewcrewdaily

[thatiranianphantom]

Nace, The Curse and the Sin Eater, A Theory.

(but actually this time)

Okay, I am far from the first person to theorize this, but Nancy wearing the same shirt in the picture she is wearing after the Nace talk in 408? Can't be a coincidence.

I am putting money on the fact that Nancy confessed something about Ace and the curse, and it was erased by the Sin Eater.

We've all been wondering how we went from "I'm not happy without you in my life" and "you make me a better person" to Nancy gushing over Tristan and Ace being obsessed with a ghost in two episodes. And why Bess and Nick are Team Tristan, and why everyone is acting like the curse isn't a thing.

It's so very OOC that it can't NOT be intentional. So yeah, if Nancy erased maybe the 403 attempt or even before, they wouldn't remember it. They WOULDN'T think Nace is a thing. From 403-408 to 409-410 is SUCH a shift in their dynamic, it is almost unbelievable. Even in 406, Nancy wasn't pursuing Tristan.

@reviewdiaries brilliantly pointed out that Nancy was talking about memories in 408. You're only left with memories, and good or bad, you get to make more. But the memory of what they can't have was killing both of them, so Nancy may have thought "I can set Ace free while taking this pain away from myself since I'll never get to have Ace. They could be in each other's lives without that pain. She's doing what Ace tried to do, get them back to before.

I've also seen people talking about how that conversation in 408 may have been added in to accomodate a shorter timeline, which tracks with this. As does the time travel theories, in a roundabout way, that have been floating around.

Also, I'm sure Ace's ghost is a malevolent spirit. Probably brought on by getting the water splashed on him in 408. So 408 did indeed take them in different directions.

Also, if we're theorizing that Tristan and Nancy have been together in past lives, it could go with the concept that no matter who they're with, Nace will find each other and are soulmates at any point in time. That would fit the finale description.

I think we've connected the dots here, folks!

[jjxkiaraxpopexcleoxjohnbxsarah]

So lately i've been rlly interested in Nancy Drew

and i am obsessed with Nace- i love them so much so i decided to write a fic.

Also why did they not give us a scene at the hospital with Ace in a coma ????

My friend @drewslegacy also made a piece for this fic

Hope someone out there enjoys this- You can also read this on ao3

ALSO PLEASE SUPPORT PALESTINE AND REMEMBER THAT THIS IS GENOCIDE NOT A WAR

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It's Ace he was in a car accident"

As George uttered those words out, all the blood drained from Nancy's face.

Her mind was in a whirlwind of emotions - shock, fear, and disbelief. How could this be happening? Ace was always so careful, so cautious behind the wheel.

When she arrived at the hospital, she was greeted by the sight of Bess and Nick, their faces pale and strained with worry.

Bess was sobbing as George rushed to hug her whilst Nancy just stood there, her face blank.

"I-i don't know what to do, they took him to surgery and what if- he can't die" Bess breaks into sobs again and it breaks Nancy's heart.

To see her usually happy, annoying friend crying and looking so helpless.

As she sits down, she spots a white bag on the chair next to her.

"Is that Ace's?"

Nick nods sadly, "Bess didn't want his mum to see"

Nancy starts looking through the bag.

"What are you doing?" George asks.

"The last time we talked.. Ace and I had a difficult conversation"

How am i supposed to trust anything you say

"He felt like he was letting us down"

I'm gonna fix this

"He wanted to prove something, find out if Laura is connected to Tiffany's death"

Nancy sighs as she finally finds Ace's phone. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she looked up to Bess.

"Bess can you unlock this please"

Bess just cries harder as she takes the phone from her with shaky hands.

She unlocks it before giving it back to Nancy.

Nancy finds the voice recording.

"Laura slow down!"

"I-i can't it won't stop Ace!"

"Stop the car!"

"I-i can't control it!"

"What the hell who was in control of the car?" George asks as she sits next to Nancy.

"Somebody who wanted Laura dead"

Nick sighs," I'm gonna get some coffee- this.. it's too much".

Just as he leaves McGinnis and a doctor walk towards them- they both have a frown plastered on their face.

Nancy and George exchange a fearful glance as this could only mean one thing- whatever the doc had to say it was bad.

"I'm afraid I have some difficult news to share with you. Ace, is in a coma"

Bess cries out" What do you mean... a-a coma"

Nancy place a hand on her shoulder as she tries to calm her own breathing.

It' all her fault- she got angry at Ace.

She made him think he had to prove something.

"C-can I see him"

The doctor tries to object but McGinnis beats her to it.

"Just let her have 5 minutes"

The doctor gives the girls a sympathetic look and nods.

Nancy follows the doctor as she takes her to Ace's room.

The sight that greets her was one she would never forget - Ace, her calm and vibrant friend, laying motionless in the bed, his body battered and bruised from the crash.

Tubes and wires were attached to his body, beeping and whirring with every heartbeat.

Nancy feels a wave of grief wash over her, but she pushes it back, as she took his hand, her heart aching with love and concern.

"Ace, it's me, Nancy. I'm here, I'm here for you. You're going to be okay, I know it."

The machines beeped and whirred, but there was no response from Ace.

Nancy's heart sinks as the tears finally roll down her face.

I'm gonna fix it

How am i supposed to trust anything you say

Nancy sobs, placing a gentle kiss on Ace's cold hand.

She's gonna fix it all, she's gonna get her friend back and show him that he is worth something. That he is enough.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was rubbish but i hope at least one person likes it.

[booklove22]

I’m having such a hard time with this episode - and I saw the larger beats coming a mile away. I knew it would be a solo-visit to the 70′s for Nancy and Tristan and that the Drew Crew would be left in the current timeline. I knew it would be Nancy and Tristan dancing. So none of what happened with them was like “OH NO I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE NACE DANCING”  - like I was already mentally prepped for that. But what kills me about this is all of the missed opportunities...and I’m trying to be objective here and not just wrapped up in the romance aspects - but the larger storytelling opportunities that were also missed.

1) It’s a 13 episode season, but for all the “this is going to be among the greatest ND episodes of all time” chatter from the writers and Kennedy, this felt distinctly like a filler episode. Something that would have been at home in an 18+ episode season, but here feels like a weird detour. It feels especially wasted since the 2nd most recently deceased corpse died in 1975! This could have been an ideal opportunity to explore more about the corpses and...they blew it. They chose to dabble in something time-travel adjacent tor....a spider? 

2) There was absolutely no reason to have Bess do the errr...c-section? Like, Ace’s job is literally cutting people open? Like, as a writer, isn’t the goal to up the emotional stakes as much as possible? Can you imagine how much more tense the scene would have been if he was the one doing it instead of Bess? Again I’m not even talking anything romantic here - just more...he was the right person for the job. 

3) Ace watching Nancy slow dance with Tristan was repetitive. Like, it didn’t hit or hurt nearly as hard as when he was in the liminal space and seeing it with Park. I know it was probably an intentional callback, not unlike the Gil kiss>Park kiss mirror, but here it just felt like they could have achieved the same outcome another way? Not that I want to hurt more than I already do, but at some point you have to weigh whether a callback is a better choice than some new kind of painful visual. 

4) The Ace/Chunky storyline was hit or miss. I prefer when the entire drew crew is working together toward a common goal and when someone is missing (or in this case working on a totally unrelated “case”), the entire vibe of the show feels off. I thought the conversations between Nick and Ace were interesting and I’m still marinating on them. Honestly, they were probably the most interesting part of the episode to me - particularly Nick’s observation that Ace trying to go back to the “friendship” he and Nancy used to have might be a futile effort because what they had might have always have been more than friendship, whether they knew it then or not. Like DAMN NICK, don’t hold back. Everyone else is telling them to move on and Nick’s the only one out here gently letting Ace know that his whole grand “friendship” plan may be impossible. 

5) Speaking of Chunky....I’ve seen some people say that Ace let him go out of spite. But my read on it was more that Ace realized there may have been a kernel of truth in what Nick said. Letting go of Chunky was him realizing that there is no going back to the relationship they used to have..so now the journey is figuring out how to be in her life moving forward if its not what they were before they knew they had feelings or what they could have been had the curse not been in place. 

6) Finally, I don’t get the vibe anymore that we’ll be seeing Ace’s “ire” over her whatever with Tristan. Ryan’s for sure. But I don’t know...after this ep, I just don’t see “ire” being the thing that comes out of Ace. At the end of the day, he knows Tristan was key to saving Nancy and she would have died otherwise. I’m not saying there won’t be jealousy or anger but I think its something he’ll let fester inside of him rather than calling her out on it (at least for now). 

Anyway, I just...I didn’t like that episode. I feel like it had the potential to be so much more and just fell short of what it could have been.

[naancypants]

After reading Julia's fabulous Honest Drew Crew Endings post, I literally can't stop thinking about it. It's the way that their endings were not only empty shells without any real significance tailored to their characters, but were in fact EXACT CONTRADICTIONS to the growth arcs that were set up for them in the first place.

Nancy Drew themes: Self-acceptance. The lynchpin to Nancy's development has always been about overcoming her demons, accepting shortcomings, and learning that she is not inherently a bad person and is in fact worthy of love and good things.

Nancy Drew ending: Her soul is intrinsically linked to a horrendous murderer and oppressor of the town, something that shakes her so violently she has to leave Horseshoe Bay to find any sort of peace; the town where she recently decided to put down roots, to "grow where she's been planted".

Ace Hardy themes: Finding family. As a loner, Ace always longed for a community where he felt he truly belonged, which he canonically found with the Drew Crew. These friendships fueled his drive, self-esteem, and gave him purpose.

Ace Hardy ending: His friends are all too caught up in their own lives to spend time with him anymore, so he dives headfirst into an isolating career in medical examination that drives him even further away from everyone. Oh, but also, they're all splitting apart anyway so who cares.

George Fan themes: Breaking the cycle. An absent father and deadbeat mother forced George to work hard to provide for her sisters, which also closed her off from forming deep emotional connections for many years.

George Fan ending: George leaves her young sisters behind to pursue an exhaustive, difficult career path on a whim. She ends the series in a new surface-level relationship rather than one that helped her open up and be vulnerable.

Bess Turani-Marvin themes: Creating a happy life. Bess arrived in Horseshoe Bay to connect with family and escape from an empty, traumatizing life on the run. She seeks joy and stability; somewhere she can finally call home.

Bess Turani-Marvin ending: Bess randomly loses her room at the Drew home (?), her entire found family leaves her after less than a year together, oh yeah and her fucking HOUSE BURNS DOWN.

Ned Nickerson themes: Building community. He wants to improve things in his new town, now that he's proclaimed he's finally found where he belongs after a troubled adolescence.

Ned Nickerson ending: Nick's several attempts to make a difference (buying The Claw, starting a youth center, running for council) all go nowhere. His efforts are a flop. He essentially gives up and takes a job with Tom Swift instead (career choice is consistent for him, at least).

Absolute insanity.

[sesamestreep]

okay sorry one last one: 50, dealer's choice

50. rudely barging in on a white veil occasion (from this list) you say dealer’s choice, I say DREW CREW! 🔎✨ set several years in the future so all these characters can legally drink and technically not be child brides, basically 🥂💍

After breaking several traffic laws to get there in record time, Nick and Ace barge in to the fitting area of Delia’s Bridal Shop in Augusta to find burn marks on the plush beige carpet as well as the remnants of several broken champagne glasses scattered on the floor. Nancy is standing center stage, as it were, grasping George by the arms but they both turn in surprise when the boys enter.

“Nancy, don’t!” Nick calls, first to act as always.

“Whatever you’re feeling right now,” Ace tries to say while still catching his breath after the sprint from the parking lot, “it’s not you. It’s the—!”

“Earrings,” Nancy replies flatly. “The ones Ryan gave me to wear, from the Hudson estate.”

“Yeah,” Nick says, cautiously, throwing a baffled look in Ace’s direction. “It turns out they belonged to one of the Women in White, and she—”

“Went crazy at her own wedding and killed a bunch of the guests,” George finishes for him, with a grim smile. “So, now they’re infused with her rage.”

“Yeah,” Ace responds, feeling his heart rate hesitantly returning to normal, “and it looks like Temperance held onto them and they got passed down through the Hudsons because…”

“She’s a nightmare person from Hell,” Bess says, nodding from an overstuffed chaise nearby, somehow managing to look both exhausted and blasé at the same time.

“Wait,” Nick says, gesturing at Nancy and George, “if you’re not in the midst of some bridal meltdown, how did you know about the earrings? And what’s with this mess?”

George gives Nancy an arch look. “Someone decided it might be nice to let the salesgirl try on her spooky family heirloom jewelry because she’s just sooo friendly and accommodating.”

At Nick and Ace’s mutual confused looks, Bess gestures to the corner, where a disheveled salesgirl is tied up in dressing room curtains and snoring gently as she presumably sleeps off the side effects of the curse, then holds up what Ace recognizes as her kit of spell components that she keeps in her purse.

“Magical first aid kit,” she announces proudly before taking a swig out of the last intact champagne flute, “never leave home without it!”

“How was I supposed to know the earrings were cursed?” Nancy asks, helplessly.

“Well, they are from the Hudsons,” Nick offers, getting a universal murmur of agreement from everyone else.

“Yeah, no more gifts or relics from that side of the family, please,” Ace says, moving to put his arm around her shoulders soothingly.

“Nothing older than twenty years, I promise,” she replies, leaning into his side. “Though, Bess did break the curse on the earrings, so…”

“Nancy!” Bess yells.

“Absolutely not,” Nick puts in.

“Not happening,” Ace objects.

“Ryan is rich. He can buy you new earrings,” George says, shaking her head and going to stand with Nick.

“Fine,” Nancy grumbles. “I guess we don’t need the risk of any extra bad luck for our wedding anyway.”

“Extra bad luck?” Ace asks. “Without the earrings, what do we have to worry about?”

Nancy bites her lip and looks uncomfortably at George and Bess. “Well, I know it’s old-fashioned, but it is considered bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the ceremony and…you’re, well…”

When she gestures down at her body, Ace notices her dress for the first time. It’s…big, with a lot of layers of tulle and…a lot more rhinestones around the neckline than he could have anticipated. The minute he spots the enormous bows down the back, he catches up and slaps a hand over his eyes.

“Oh, no! I’m sorry, I didn’t even think! I was so worried about the cursed earrings that I…”

“Goddammit,” George says.

Ace looks over at her, in case something else has suddenly gone wrong, only to find Nick trying desperately not to laugh while she glares at Nancy.

“Pay up, baby!” Nancy says, with a triumphant grin.

“What,” Ace says, not even bothering to make it a question.

“George bet me 20 bucks that I wouldn’t put this dress on and be able to convince you I was going to buy it,” Nancy says, patting his chest with her palm. “I was just going to text you a photo but you made it a lot easier by showing up. You should’ve seen your face.”

“That’s so mean,” Ace says, even as relief floods through him.

“As if I’d ever choose this dress of all things.”

“I’m still coming down from a panicked adrenaline high and I feel that I should be graded on a curve as a result.”

“Does that mean I don’t have to give Nancy twenty dollars?” George asks, as she fishes a bill out of her bra.

“Hell no,” Nancy replies, snatching it out of her hands. “Weddings are expensive.”

Ace nods at the damage around them. “Yeah, and I have a feeling these guys aren’t going to give us a discount.”

“Maybe there’s a matching wedding dress in the Hudson House of Horrors you could borrow,” Nick suggests.

“Don’t even joke about that,” Nancy says, darkly, curling even further into Ace’s side.

[notyetbulletproof]

It makes no sense to play this “they can’t be together” shit in your last few episodes for a couple we never even saw date.

Okay, it would make SOME sense if your 3.5 seasons didn’t span ONLY ONE YEAR.

It would make sense to talk. To actually have more than ONE episode that allows them to talk about what it means. I mean I GET THAT THEY’VE DONE THAT but god it’s so wishy washy. And annoying.

And you want us to buy that all this has happened over one year? Then show us more of them together. Casual brushes. “Oops Sorrys”. “We really shouldn’ts”. More of THAT please.

NO NEW LOVE INTERESTS, no love triangles.

In this one year — Nancy found out she was adopted, had this distance from Carson, accepted she was a Hudson, lost so many people. AND EVERYTHING ELSE (Lucy, Owen, her uncle and gran, Carson legal stuff, Odette(!), Wraith, Hudson stuff, confronting grief, etc).

Nancy has also dated Nick, Owen, Bobsey (i forgot his name now) and Park. She also had that weird thing with Tamura. And now? Tristan. They did lay down the ground work for Nancy x Ace (which made those latter relationships make sense because well, Ace was dating other people). But this bullshit one year thing just messes the timeline up so much???

In this one year— Ace went from being informant to morgue assistant. (Actually SOME of the stuff that has happened within Ace’s own life outside of Drew Crew and relationship stuff could make sense, SOME). Ace rekindled his relationship with Laura Thandie, dated Amanda and now has this weird attachment to ghosts. The one consistent thing is highlighting Ace’s interests in Nancy. Still, ONE YEAR. The only thing that makes sense with Ace over the one year is us not seeing more of his family life. (I want to see more thanks).

In this one year— George went from dating Ryan to breaking up with him, to being engaged to Nick. Not to mention the law school stuff. Of course George Fan would get in please. I just mean ITS BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE BUCKET? Has it? No right???

In this one year —- Bess moved to Horseshoe bay, went from sometimes thief to supernatural know all? Dated Lisbeth then Odette/George(?) to Addy. Not to mention the girl the Marvins tried to set her up with. Oh yeah plus her ex coming back. AND SHE WENT FROM BEING A MARVIN to not, to keeper, to not.

In this one year — Nick went falsely accused to suspected killer to accountable person to rich pal to opening and running a foundation. He dated Nancy then George, then was ENGAGED to George before she ended things (and didn’t she say then that this year was weird for her) and now he’s dating(?) Jade.

Also can we talk about how the town has has had 2 changes to chief? One main detective that came and went. One arrested. An FBI consultant? IN ONE YEAR.

Aiya, I don’t know what this post is about. I’m just sad and I really freaking hate this timeline thing. It just feels very HIMYM. Like they had this preplanned thing and they didn’t think about how it would work as they added to it week to week.

Unless the secret Nancy confessed is that she found out the town and her friends are caught in some frozen time loop, it just doesn’t make sense.

Fic writers, please make this make sense. I’ll take your stories as canon.

[we-pay-for-everything]

Nancy Drew season 4, episode 9 review (spoilers!)

Okay, so... what the fuck did I just watch?

First of all, the way the episode started made me think I'd missed an episode. I assumed the writers knew this was going to be their last season from the start, but maybe they didn't and that's why they're speeding things up now? This season so far has been filled with filler episodes and plotlines no one gives a fuck about - like, I literally do not give a fuck about what any of them are doing. I just want Ace and Nancy to finally happen (though I want it less and less each day) and to know if Ryan gets killed off or not. This episode might be the worst one in the series. Is Ace even a part of their group right now?

Yeah, second thing, what the fuck have they done to Ace? Why did Ace only have a brief scene with George? First, he was excluded from Kate's death anniversary, and now he's being excluded from literally everything? No, nope, nuh uh, fuck that. Fuck Nancy and fuck the rest of them, and fuck the writers. Ace used to be Bess's platanchor but now he's the only one missing from her court hearing? He just texted her? Do the actors have beef with Ace's actor or something? They made up some bullshit excuse for his absence, but the only explanation that makes sense is that the actor couldn't be present in their scenes and they had to work around it? But Bess saying George was her best friend and had been for awhile, and to not tell Ace, was the cherry on top of the fucking cake. So, this is what happens when you want Ace and Nancy to be together? Nancy can't date the same guy for more than three episodes so Ace was sacrificed? He lost all his friends in the breakup, is that it? I imagine that his ghost storyline has something to do with the sin eater or whatever but...

What is even happening on the show? All the episodes run together, seemingly unrelated for the most part. There are a bunch of different loose storylines that are supposed to mean something but I don't know what. The show is truly going out like this, huh? At this point, good fucking riddance. I'm starting to regret Nace ever becoming a thing.

Thirdly, Nancy is trying something "new" - ie. going on a date with someone uncomplicated and communicating more. Right... Because Nancy doesn't usually go on dates - she fucks the guy first and then they break up or the guy dies. The going on dates part might be new, I guess. But communicating properly? Answering yes or no isn't deep communication. And she said Tristan always was honest and always said what he thinks. Ace literally can't lie to save his life and he's also an "uncomplicated" person. What the fuck are you on, Nancy? Ugh, I always feel like I'm slutshaming Nancy, but it's sooo boring watching her flirt with a guy only for them to break up as soon as they finally get together. We all know those love interests won't last. She never even falls in love with them or gets to know them well. It's so useless.

I'll say that the show did manage to surprise me with the sin eater is a person and apparently her love interest plot twist. If Nancy killed him then I'll be happy, if not, she's for sure going to date Tristan now. Let's hope he died so at least one bad storyline is put out of its misery.

I'm sorry, I don't have anything positive to say. I also hate to be this person but it's like they're trying to fit every social issue they can in this season and it's so sloppily done.

Edit: It hit me now that it was supposed to be ironic that Nancy called Tristan uncomplicated but he turned out to be the Sin Eater. Before that, however, Tristan's parents tried to kill Ryan, but she called him uncomplicated anyway? Excluding Nick, Ace, and Owen (he was a bit too old for her though), Nancy has terrible taste in men.

[kimpossible87]

Okay, went back and watched 4x08 and looks like it is def possible that Nancy went directly after her phone call with Ace to confess her sin. In the pic from 4x10, her hair looked a little wet. But her shirt also looked blue? In 4x08, they make it really difficult due to lighting to see if her shirt is blue or black.

Of course the photo is swathed in a bluish undertone so that could be what makes the shirt look like that. Either way, I think the only logical conclusion is that the confession happened either directly prior to their phone call, or sometime after but still during the same night and soon enough that Nancy's hair was still damp.

I actually think either is plausible bc the dialogue from the phone call doesn't clearly illustrate whether their memories of their breakup/relationship are intact or altered. Also, it's possible Nancy had already confessed her sin but that Tristan had not yet eaten the sin prior to the phone call so their memories may have still been intact either way, which could explain why Nancy's tone is somewhat sorrowful in contrast to Ace's lighter, happier tone.

I def felt like Nancy was already planning to go to the black door to do this earlier in the evening. I think that's why she seems off after her conversation with Ace at the claw and prior to the group hug. Being inside Ace's body would've given her new perspective and possibly triggered this idea. She also says that she doesn't think she can survive losing anyone else she loves.

A few other observations...

1. I def feel like the storyline about the brothers has a very purposeful link to Ace being able to connect with ghost girl in the next episode, especially given the wave that hits the boat after he drops the jar into the water

2. It's funny that Ryan calls Nancy Ace earlier in the episode, even though he already knew they had body swapped. I think this illustrates just how similar Ace and Nancy are.

3. Callie Farquard and her little group is prob tied to the town cover-up and that's why they're trying to take down Bess so that no one meddles in their whole sin-eater set up. I still think this could also tie back to Temperance too but we shall see.

4. Ryan gets visibly cold in his final scene of the episode, which was kind of oddly purposeful. Is it just because he already has a feeling that something is wrong given Nancy's kidnapping, or is it something else?

5. It is interesting how Tristan refers to Nashua like he's a separate person from himself, even though it's supposed to still be his soul. Because they talk about him as a separate person intentionally, it does lend credence to the theory that Nashua's soul may have been reincarnated into someone else and Tristan is just the reincarnation of the sin-eater's soul. Maybe Ace is the vessel for Nashua's reincarnated soul.

[anactualcaseofthetruth]

I'm not mad at Nancy for getting flirty and friendly with Tristan. It was inevitable.

I'm mad at how they did it at the expense of Ace. As in, his character doesn't get growth or development except for when it has to do with Nancy now that she is his love interest.

I'm mad that after they tried to break the curse all we saw was Nancy's after care. We heard all the calls from the crew the episode after. We heard how both her dads told her to move on and she'll get over him. We saw Bess's notes saying she has options and even made a point to remind her that she got a few numbers. We got an entire speech of Ace telling Nancy how he wants her to move on and be loved by someone else because he can't love her the way she needs/deserves.

We got very little on Ace. All we knew was that he missed her and desperately wanted their friendship back. And I do understand his frustration at wanting to be able to see her, but I also understand Nancy needing time and space.

I'm mad that, because of how slow time seems to move in this show, that it's probably been 2 weeks AT MOST since they decided to call it quits and Ace had to walk in and see Tristan and Nancy together like that.

Everyone has been telling Nancy to move on and I don't recall hearing one person say to Ace "move on" or "you'll find someone else" or even a "I know this is hard but you'll be fine".

I also don't think seeing Tristan with Nancy would have been so off-putting if we had already met Aces love interest. Maybe then it wouldn't have felt mean.

We've seen Nancy taking this ordeal pretty hard. So I don't blame her for wanting to feel better, even if for a few moments with Tristan.

We've seen Ace taking this hard too. We saw him attempting to extend an olive branch of friendship to Nancy only to feel like he didn't matter, much like she made him feel last season. He doesn't deserve that at all. I know it wasn't Nancy's intention and she didn't want him to see it but it did hit him where it hurts.

I hope the writers realize how bad they are making Nancy look and how bad they are making Ace feel.

They're better than this. They better remember that next ep (and all the ones after).

[scarletslippers]

Okay, I've been thinking a lot about the curse and how much of how the curse works and manifests is really dependent on how we define love.

Part of love is feeling, chemistry, attraction, yes, but more importantly, love is action. Putting another's good above your own, wanting the best for that person no matter what. Love is making choices that help do that.

So to understand the curse, we need to take the perspective of how the curse caster understood love. AKA, Temperance. Diving in under the cut because it got long.

Temperance did not understand love. Yes, she seemed hurt and betrayed when she relayed that Cora Down turned Charity and Charity's father against Temperance, but I think the root of that was more that they were no longer hers to manipulate. Even her mother's love for her child was not unconditional and about Charity's welfare. She states that from the beginning she was only concerned about Charity as a means to an end.

"You made your daughter into a key."

"I gifted her with a destiny."

Temperance calls Beckett Dow a "pedantic drip" and shows disdain for Charity's feelings for him. But what Beckett did, was truly incredible. This man, as his wife lay dying, brutally separated her soul to keep her safe for eternity, and then turned himself into an immortal terrifying heart-freezing entity as an insurance policy to make sure that Charity was never harmed. The man lived 150 years alone in a cell awaiting the day he would maybe have to live that purpose. Nancy was right. "It's always been about love." Sacrificial love, that is.

Circling this back to Nancy and Ace, Nancy fully understands and employs sacrificial love. She tells Temperance, "I can't let you destroy Horseshoe Bay. No." She sacrifices her future to keep the town safe - which Temperance didn't see coming because Temperance didn't understand Nancy's love for Ace or for Horseshoe Bay.

"Blind spots, Temperance. I choose this."

And then we see it all over 3x13 and 4x01 where Nancy avoids telling Ace about the curse or her love because she's dying to keep him safe and the best way she knows how to do that is to keep her distance.

So let's examine the curse:

"It will kill Ace if you ever act upon your feelings for each other."

What does 'act upon feelings' mean? That's the big unknown, right?

Nancy chooses the no contact, no discussion route to be totally safe, but really, isn't choosing to keep him safe an act of love?

Not by Temperance's definition.

Nancy spends every inch of 4x01 telling and showing how in love with Ace she is:

"I can talk about a platonic friend who I have to keep alive by never letting him know that I'm in love with him so that we don't act on our feelings for each other and activate a secret death curse."

Asking Bess and George how Ace is every chance she gets.

Telling Ryan "It's like my compass is off. My sense of true north."

Writing Ace's name on a paper stuck in a bottle for a town tradition so that "lovers' souls separated in death can find each other."

And yet none of those trigger the curse or a curse warning. Because all of those examples are on the intellectual, sacrificial side of love - wanting him to be safe, making sure he's doing okay, mourning the loss of him as a partner and friend in a relationship where they make each other better.

It's only when Nancy and Ace physically act on feelings from the chemistry/attraction side of things do we get curse warnings - almost kiss one, almost kiss two, almost kiss three, shirt grabbing, nose brush, forehead touch, etc. These all fall under Temperance's definition of love. And really, by her definition, you can see why she thought love was weakness. She prided herself on being someone in control of herself, her emotions, and the world around her.

"Feelings make your blind spots bigger."

Being so out of control so as to almost kiss someone three times even though you know it means certain death for them? Yeah, that kind of seems like weakness.

All this to say, I think it's going to be interesting how we see this play out this season, given Kennedy's comment about Nancy and Ace leaning on each other like never before. It seems like the curse isn't wired to prevent emotional intimacy, and now that the feelings are all out in the open, I can't wait to see where that goes.

[pluckysidekick]

Hello, Drewds! I’ve been on vacation but just had to come back to post about what we know about the next few episodes.

Before I go there, a word on Episode 8. For me it was one of the best of the entire series. The actors were able to capture each others’ speech, mannerisms, and essence so well. And of course the Nancy and Ace scenes were just incredible. They aren’t together romantically yet, but they have reached a new level of honesty with each other, and are learning how to be a couple. The sunset scene, and Ace’s voice cracking as he says later that he’s a better person with Nancy in his life, were everything.

On to episode 9! We got the one line description “The Drew Crew prepare to battle a Sin Eater.” I think we can do better than that. To start with, the title. “The Mystery of the Stolen Soul.”

Who could be the stolen soul? My theory - it’s Tristan Glass. We know he’s adopted, and the Glasses are fully capable of stealing a child. Is he the child of India Burnett, the most recent victim of the Sin Eater (who died on a boat under mysterious circumstances)? Or does he have some other connection?

Henry Zaga was filming in Vancouver and posted this at the time of ep. 9 filming:

I remember at the time wondering how he got so muddy. This certainly makes me think of this scene from the trailer:

We all surmised that this is Tristan who Nancy says she won’t let die (yes I studied Alex and Henry’s profiles for comparison cause I’m obsessed).

Some fans have theorized that Tristan IS a Sin Eater. Did Nancy shoot him accidentally when she’s aiming for a Sin Eater? Or does he transform? Or is he actually the next victim - and if so, whose sin is he paying for? Nancy’s (for the tsunami/killing Tempy/shooting Tristan)? The Glasses (for kidnapping Tristan/many attempted murders)? We will get the return of Jonas Glass in this episode, interested in how he plays into it. Kennedy said we won’t fully understand Tristan’s role until the finale, but I imagine a big piece of the puzzle will be revealed in this episode. Still wondering about his grandfather that he went fishing with, esp after Ep. 8’s Ace&Thom fishing adventure…

We have this intriguing promo still from Ep. 9 which matches with a shot from the trailer:

So is this Temperance’s red sleeping powder she used on Lev? Perhaps Nancy finds it in Icarus Hall. Does she try to use it on the Sin Eater? Tristan? Ace? (Also, where’s Ace?)

There’s this mysterious shot that matches Nancy’s fit from the cabin shot below:

She’s waking up here - did she douse herself with the sleeping powder accidentally? Maybe she’s testing it out before she tries it on the Sin Eater.

We also had this trailer shot in a stone cabin that matches Maddison’s coat from ep.9 filming:

You may remember she attempted to sing Elton John in the green room in this gorgeous purple plaid coat. What icky thing are they encountering? And what is going on here?

Back in town, we’ve got Bess on trial for witchcraft, which is eerily evocative of both the history of early America and today’s terrifying climate:

You may remember the cast did a meet and greet with fans during filming at the old courthouses that are inside the Vancouver Art Gallery:

Since Nancy has a few different outfits in this episode, I’m thinking the trial runs for at least few days.

So I know we’re all anxious about what is happening with Ace, who isn’t in any of these shots. We know from past episodes they often leave him out of promos, surely to increase our anticipation. I can’t imagine him not being there for his Platanchor - although he does have a job that he can’t slack off now. From IMDB, Connor is in this ep, so we should get some work scenes for Ace, and perhaps the suggestion that he go to school to further his career?

I believe we’ll see his potential love interest in the next episode (will do another post), but we should expect some Nancy-Tristan action in this ep. Gotta ride the wave!

As always my post is all speculation based on what we know from BTS, trailers, and promos. I might have the wrong episode for some of these shots, and there may be some I missed. But it’s fun to speculate while we wait for Larry’s emojis and tonight’s broadcast!

[hurtcomfortficstilltheend]

When a Counterspell Backfires, Part 1.

Nancy Drew x gn! Reader

Summary: After not taking it seriously for some time, breaking the curse Temperance casted on you and Nancy proves harder than expected.

Warnings: angst, deteriorated health mention, passing out.

Word Count: 1.3k

“Nancy! Guess what I found?” you called, in a singsong manner.

“My car keys?” The redhead turned around to look at you from her place at her desk. 

“Well, of course, but also something else…” You shook the keychain in your right hand, but kept the other behind your back. Nancy raised her eyebrows expectantly and a half smile appeared on her face. “The map of the forbidden catacombs! With the entrance spot and everything.”

“No, you didn’t!” Nancy jumped from her chair and, in mere milliseconds, stood in front of you to engulf you on a rib-breaking hug. She was beaming, just like every time something went well on an investigation.

You wrapped your arms around her as best as you could with the items on your hands, being extra careful to not tear the ancient piece of paper. “Yes I did! Don’t ask me how though, I don’t think you wanna know.”

“Ha, ha, you are soooo funny.” She rolled her eyes. “We both know you wouldn’t dare break middle school rules, nevermind the actual law.”

“What can I say? Maybe being around you so much is starting to rub off on me.” You sported a mischievous grin when she rolled her eyes once again and leaned in for a kiss, which you returned gladly. You gave her a last peck on her cheek and stood beside her, offering your arm to link with hers. “Shall we?”

“We shall.” Sporting huge smiles, the both of you walked to the blue car outside her house and you tossed her the keys. She really was looking bright today, all happy and excited. You love to see her like this.

—

That was long ago. The ghost you were looking for ended up being part of a cluster case, something very new to the crew. Still, you managed, as always. After days of research, a messy and exhausting hand-to-ghostly-hand combat, and a bunch of salt bombs, it was all over. You had gotten an awful purplish slash on your back that wouldn’t quite heal, but it was fine, it acted as a normal scar anyway.

Thinking back to it now it felt silly, a fun little supernatural mystery to solve. Now everything is complicated, personal. Since Temperance casted the curse on you and Nancy nothing is the same. You haven’t seen your girlfriend’s smile in a while. 

“The universe will do everything in its power to prevent you from enjoying the time you are in each other’s presence. Accidents, missteps… death? But you will be in love forever, unable to move on, unable to be distant. Until death do you part.” Had been the sentence. 

When Nancy told you this, you didn’t believe it to be such a bad thing (except for the dying part, of course), you thought you could get through it. At that time, all that had happened was you kicking a table leg right on your pinkie toe at The Claw, and your girlfriend spitting coffee from her nose. It surely had been unfortunate, but you had laughed about it. Ace had even jokingly started calling you trouble couple. Also, the being in love part you were already counting on, so what was the issue?

Things had escalated though. First it was breaking glasses, pumping your knees on furniture, burning skin on the stove. “Accidents happen”, you had said. You were actually known for being a little clumsy, no biggie. Then came the misstep on the stairs that had ended in a concussion, the falling into the sea from the docks and almost drowning, the car crash… You had tried taking a break from each other, moving away for some time to see what happened, but it had made you both awfully ill. Nancy had ended up in the hospital.

Being together was dangerous, and so was being apart. So you took the offensive. You were a witch, and so was Bess, you’d figure something out.

It has been months now. Nancy’s health is deteriorating, her face paler each day, dark circles under her eyes, new scars and bruises adorning her body; you are in no better shape anyway. 

“Baby wake up please…” you whispered. Your girlfriend was curled up in your arms, her sleeping face so soft despite everything. “Today we are trying the counter-spell Bess found, remember?”

After a few seconds, she stirs awake. For a moment she looks at you like she used to, shimmering eyes glad to feel you with her. Then the heaviness takes over, she nods in agreement and gets up to use the bathroom. You worry she might cut herself with her shaving machine, or slip on the tiles and hit her head on the toilet. 

That’s all you do lately, worry. Maybe that's what will finally kill you.

She comes out of the bathroom safe and sound, and you feel like crying in relief. “So, are they all coming here?” She asks while looking for a clean shirt to put on. 

You swallow the knot on your throat. “Yeah, Bess said it was better if we didn’t move too much. They are bringing the supplies too.”

“Good.”

-

You hear three firm knocks on the old wooden door. You look at Nancy, place your hand on her knee reassuringly, and stand from the couch to greet your friends. A string of curses can be heard when the door handle gives you an electric shock, but everything is fine. Nick, George, Ace, and Bess have their hands packed with bags and boxes, and they all look ready for war. You are gonna end this, once and for all.

The pitying looks from everyone in the last few months annoyed the fuck out of Nancy, so she shut off almost everyone in her life. You had tried to talk some sense into her, only managing to get her to meet up with friends and family once a week in small gatherings or movie nights you organized. 

“Here goes nothing.” Nancy lets out a heavy sigh, you have a feeling she doesn’t believe this is going to work out. You squeeze her hands and conjure a calming smile on your face, as much to appease her nerves as yours.

Everything is set up, Nancy and you are standing face to face in a salt circle. The studio is flooding with lit candles, the flames waving with each breath you take. Your friends are standing in each of the four cardinals, a few feet away from you, holding a set of obscure antiques you know nothing about. You should get back to researching soon.

Bess starts chanting in latin, the others mimicking the phrase over, and over, and over again. Your body feels heavier, a buzzing sound in your ear. You look up to check on your girlfriend, and she looks weirdly brightened. Her eyes seem more attentive, her expression more alive, her cheeks are flushed as if she just came back from a short run. You are glad she’s already doing better, and would love to stay and enjoy the moment with her, but you feel yourself slipping away. 

She doesn’t notice, her eyes are too focused on the light smoke coming out from your chests, and you don’t blame her, it really is a show to see.

The second Ace, Bess, George, and Nick stop chanting, darkness engulfs the space. The candles release their iconic burnt-wick smell. The only noise is everybody’s quiet breathing. Nobody dares to speak, but the same question plagues their minds: Did it work?

Your body, that long ago stopped feeling yours, collapses. Nancy barely manages to soften your fall by getting a grip of your arm. The moment breaks, your girlfriend is screaming your name, but you can’t hear her. Nick is checking your pulse, George fishes her phone from her bag and is already dialing 911, Bess wonders what went wrong.

You see, from somewhere above your body, how Nancy holds you in her arms, gets a strand of hair out of your face, tells you that everything will be okay. She's crying, screaming to no one in particular to do something to help you. You are unresponsive, every single muscle limp, you wish you could just tell her how much you love her.

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A/N: There is not enough written about this show!! It's my guilty pleasure to be honest, The level of angst the show manages to put out is outstanding.

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